Managing nighttime acid reflux

In 2008 Mayo diagnosed me with IBS because of non-typical acid reflux. With diet and meds, I’ve been fine until a year ago. Had severe acid reflux, some bloating, and occasional constipation. Kept to strict no-fat, sugar, caffeine, or acid along with omrapazole, etc. After 3 months it improved and took gas-X occasionally which helped. After a few months of improvement, I no longer have acid reflux during day, but in middle of night I bring up mucus and feel acid. My head is elevated. Have tried Pepcid and Gavascon. Dr suggested MiraLAX 2-3 times a week. Stomach X-ray showed some bowel movement still remaining. Anyone have info on dealing with this night mucus?

You will have to experiment to find what works for you. I bought a 45 degree foam wedge and hated it. I use it now as a backboard. I place two pillows vertically against the wedge backboard and sleep sitting up, 90 degrees. Now if I wake up at 3 or 4, I usually move the pillows to a horizontal position and sleep propped up. If I combine this with diet .. low acid, whole food diet ... and eating about 4-5 hours before bedtime, I am usually okay. For side sleepers sleeping on your left side, due to stomach position, has a better chance of fighting off reflux than the right side. Some people start sleeping in a recliner and when they awake a few hours later, as many of us, they move to bed. If I don't follow the rules I place an antacid or alginate tablet in the back of my mouth and that calms things down for me. I used to get a sore throat every night (I probably also have silent reflux that affects the throat, not the esophagus) I would pop in a throat lozenge and that would last for hours. If you want to try to strengthen your LES, the UK has a product called Iqoro. You can look it up and see what it is and the exercises you can do with it. You can't buy the Iqoro in the US. If want to try the exercises, buy a cheap mouthguard with a strap to do them. Takes about six months to see a difference. Good luck, I hope you find your solution quickly, but don't get frustrated if you have to do trial and error. I probably should buy a bolster, a padded pillow with arms, for sleeping sitting up. Maybe I will try that next ....

My CVS pharmacy “personalized education printout” suggested with my new to me prescription (famotidine 40 mg) be taken at dinner time. That suggestion to go to bed at least an hour AFTER eating has also been helpful.

Yes, I also slide.

@baguette Been doing the same with wedge and pillows plus sleeping on left side and eating 4-5 hours before bedtime. Went through the daytime acid reflux for months and ate right diet and took meds and the was good 4 months till this nighttime mucus started. So I’m patient and trying all suggestions. Just ordered mattress wedge.Need to try Algona Gavis more. Tried throat losenge last night and stopped mucus temporarily.

@pza have you tried an allergy pill at night or one of those allergy pillow cases? Just wondering if you have alle goes too. Or maybe laryngopharyngeal reflux? If you haven't considered that maybe looking at jamiekoufman com will give you more ideas. Good luck